Restoring streams to their historic conditions to benefit wildlife, economies and communities

For the last two years, The Freshwater Trust has helped to restore the natural path of 3.8 miles of the Middle Fork John Day River. In the mid-1900s, the project site was straightened to drain floodplains and create livestock pasture which negatively affected habitat for both aquatic and non-aquatic species. By reconnecting the straightened river to its historic channel and replanting streamside vegetation, the project will restore normal stream and streamside function to benefit spring Chinook, summer steelhead, American beaver, western meadowlark and Oregon swallowtail.